Several hundred people gathered at the Iowa Capitol on Monday in support of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

"It's a tragedy that Trayvon's death has sparked this conversation, but it's a conversation that absolutely needs to happen," Drake University student Funmi said.

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Exactly one month ago, the 17-year-old was shot dead in Sanford, Florida, while heading back from a convenience store, where he'd picked up a bag of Skittles and an iced tea.

The teen's admitted shooter, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, hasn't been charged in the case, and his lawyer has said his client shot Martin in self-defense.

Yet the young victim's parents, as well as their supporters, have suggested that the shooter thought their son was "suspicious" because he was black, adding that they feel local police bungled the case in numerous ways -- chief among them, by not arresting Zimmerman.

"We have to change people's perspectives about what it means to be black, and what it means to be young and black in this country," Omaha resident Rasheed Amao said.

Drake University students and others arrived at the Iowa Capitol on Monday to protest Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Similar legislation is being proposed in Iowa.

"I think this type of law is really dangerous because people's perception of what is threatening or aggressive is subjective," Funmi said.

Passed the House of Representatives by a 60-to-38 margin, Iowa House File 2215 states that "a person may use reasonable force, including deadly force, if it is reasonable to believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one's life."

The proposal will go to the Senate, where its future is much less certain.

"I'm hoping this educates everybody, and I hope we can all talk about it, have an open conversation, and learn more about each other," Amao said.